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China hits back after Canada accuses PLA jets of ‘unsafe’ South China Sea moves
- Canadian helicopter ‘took provocative actions’ near airspace around Paracel Islands on October 29, Chinese defence ministry says
- Response comes after Ottawa accused PLA jets of ‘significantly unsafe’ action in buzzing a Canadian military helicopter ‘in international airspace’
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Vanessa Caiin Shanghai
Beijing has hit back at Ottawa over a mid-air encounter between a Canadian aircraft and PLA fighter jets over the South China Sea late last month, describing the Canadian action as provocative.
Chinese defence ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said on Saturday that a Canadian helicopter conducted flights of “unknown intent” to approach the airspace around the Paracel Islands, known in China as the Xisha.
Zhang said the People’s Liberation Army’s naval and air forces had identified the Canadian helicopter and repeatedly issued warnings, but it “refused to respond” and “took provocative actions such as flying at ultra-low altitude”.
The Canadian flights represented “malicious and provocative actions with ulterior motives”, Zhang said.
Beijing’s response came after Ottawa accused the Chinese air force of unsafe behaviour over international waters in the South China Sea on October 29.
Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said on Friday that the Chinese aircraft engaged in “significantly unsafe” action, Reuters reported.
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